New Gov.-elect Nathan Deal celebrated his election win Wednesday with Sonny Perdue, his predecessor who became the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction by also beating Roy Barnes, the Democrat Deal beat Tuesday.

Perdue said the election showed ‘‘the people have convincingly placed their trust and their faith in the Republican leadership — top to bottom — to steer this state.’’

In Atlanta, Deal announced his transition team will be lead by T. Rogers Wade, the chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

“We’re thrilled at the opportunity for Rogers to share his years of expertise in politics and policy with the new leadership in Georgia” Kelly McCutchen said, who succeeded Wade as president and CEO of the foundation, an independent think tank that proposes “practical, market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians.”

Deal’s chief of staff will be longtime congressional aide Chris Riley, and his inaugural committee includes lobbyist Jay Morgan and Tricia Pridemore, founder of the 912 Project.

The governor-elect said he would plan a “tasteful” inauguration during the tough economic times.

Steele’s statement on Georgia results

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele sent his congratulations to Deal, along with U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and Congressman-elect Austin Scott, who won the only U.S. House seat in Georgia to switch parties.

“The voters of Georgia have elected strong, conservative leaders who believe in the principles of small government, fiscal responsibility, and pro-growth economic policies,” Steele said. “These Republican victories both within Georgia’s House and Senate and in U.S. Congress are a testament to the energy and hard work of the millions of grassroots activists in small towns across the state, and a wake-up call to the Democrat establishment who put their tax-and-spend agenda ahead of their own constituents. Georgia has long stood for conservative values that reward hard work and leaders such as Sen. Johnny Isakson, Gov.-elect Nathan Deal, and Congressman Austin Scott will put Georgia in the best position to restore prosperity in the Peach State.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Camie Young can be reached via e-mail at camie.young@gwinnettdailypost.com.